€1,000 Silage Plan: All the key questions answered, including details on penalties

The new silage scheme, which will pay farmers up to €1,000 to grow silage, was opened to applications as farm organizations criticized that excluding dairy and mountain farmers was “scandalous”.

The €56 million scheme, announced by Agriculture Secretary Charlie McConalogue in early May, aims to encourage farmers, particularly dry farmers, to plant more forage (silage and/or hay) in the coming winter to help prevent animal welfare issues over the course of the coming winter Winter and spring after steep fertilizer price increases and concerns over the availability of grain imports over the winter.

But ICMSA President Pat McCormack said Agriculture Secretary Charlie McConalogue’s decision to exclude dairy farmers was scandalous.

He said the government was “actively working against” the interests of family dairy farms, which “will lead to the demise of family farms, which will be replaced by industrial-scale units in 10 years’ time”.

“The minister has decided to exclude family dairy farms, whether they milk one cow or multiple cows, while making a decision to support those with significant non-farm incomes. The reality is that a person with an off-farm income of €1 million is entitled to this scheme, while a family dairy farm is specifically exempt.”

Up to 30,000 drywall farmers are now “locked out of this vital support”, according to Vincent Roddy, national president of the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).

He said the decision “came like a bolt from the blue as there was no indication that dry cattle farmers would be excluded from those acres” and that many of those farmers “were already taking into account the forage support announced in early May when they took it.” Meadow soil built up and fertilizer bought.”

He said dry cattle farmers trusted what they were told last May and were holding back meadows and spending money in anticipation of promises of support.

IFA President Tim Cullinan said the exclusion of Category 1 land, which includes most hill areas, was “completely unacceptable”.

“Beef and sheep farmers who run livestock will face higher costs due to the escalation of input costs such as fertilizer, feed and fuel. Sheep farmers must receive additional financial support on top of existing payments.”

How do I apply for the feed subsidy?

All applications are submitted online here via the Ministry of Agriculture. Paper powers of attorney will not be accepted. Farmers or their advisors can apply via agfood.ie

Is feed support open to all farmers?

The program is open to all farmers who submitted a BPS application in 2022 and who do not have a milk supply agreement as of May 16, 2022.

Dairy farmers and farming organizations have been very critical of the fact that dairy farmers and mountain farmers (those with land classified as Category 1 land under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC)) cannot apply.

What areas are eligible for the program?

Grassland declared on the applicant’s BPS 2022 is eligible for the scheme. Grassland is defined as BPS plots containing Alfalfa, Arable Silage (Grass), Clover, Grass Silage, Grass Years 1-5, Grass Years 1-5 Multi Species Sward, Grass Meal, Alfalfa, Permanent Willow, Permanent Willow MSS, Red Clover, etc. Traditional Hay Meadow. Arable land and ANC Category 1 land are not eligible for the feed support scheme.

What is the payment rate?

Payment is made at a rate of up to €100/ha, up to a maximum of 10 ha (€1,000). However, if the program is oversubscribed, the Department lowers the payment rate for all hectares or keeps the rate of €100/ha for the first few hectares and lowers it for the last few hectares.

Do I need to list all of my LPIS parcels that make up the area I am applying for in the Forage Support Scheme?

No, the applicant only has to indicate the number of hectares on which he intends to cut hay and/or silage in 2022 according to the program conditions.

Do I have to take a photo of all the packages I enclose?

No, however administrative and on-site checks will be carried out which may include photographs submitted in a manner described by the department.

Do I need to download the Agri Snap app?

This is not mandatory but can be used where possible to facilitate administrative checks.

When will payments for the feed support program be issued?

The department expects to start paying for closed cases in late November 2022.

Do I need a consultant to apply?

No, but if a farmer intends to submit his application through his registered advisor, the advisor must be linked to the farmer in the Department’s Exceptional Aid Scheme. If a new association is required or the farmer changes his adviser, this can only be done via the SMS authorization function.

Can leased land be included?

Yes, once the land is available to the applicant and is identified as an eligible hectare on his/her BPS 2022 application.

Is the traditional hay meadow suitable for feeding fodder?

Yes, as long as all feed promotion requirements are met.

Is low-input permanent pasture (LIPP) eligible for the feed support scheme?

LIPP packages under GLAS are excluded, as these packages are excluded from cutting under the GLAS terms and conditions.

Do I have to use the preserved feed on my own farm or can I sell all or part of the feed?

You can sell all or part of the forage produced on the farm, but you may be asked to provide evidence that the forage was cut and preserved and then sold, such as: B. Receipts/account statements etc.

If I cut the surface twice, do I get double payment?

You receive compensation of up to €100/ha for each hectare cut, up to a maximum of 10 ha. For example, if you make two silage and/or hay cuts on 5 ha of land, you receive up to €1,000 since you make two cuts on the plots have harvested forage. The second cut option should be stated on your application where required, clearly stating that you commit to cutting and canning 5ha of silage/hay on the first cut and a further 5ha on the second cut.

Am I eligible for this program if I have 30 ha of common land and 10 ha of grassland on my 2022 BPS application? I am not a milk supplier.

You are eligible to apply for the Feed Promotion Scheme with the 10ha of grassland, you must state in your application how much of it you would like to cut and conserve for silage/hay.

Are partnerships eligible?

Farmers in an agricultural partnership registered with the Ministry are eligible for the feed support scheme provided the partnership submitted a valid BPS application in 2022.

examples

1. A farmer has declared 30 ha of eligible grassland in his BPS 2022 application, of which the farmer wants to use 15 ha for cutting and preserving silage. The farmer applies for feed support and enters 15 ha in the application form. The farmer is entitled to a payment of up to €100/ha at the regulatory ceiling of 10 ha, which equates to a payment of up to €1,000.

2. A farmer has declared 7 ha of eligible grassland in his BPS 2022 application, of which the farmer wants to use 5 ha for cutting and preserving silage. The farmer applies for feed support and enters 5 ha in the application form. The farmer is entitled to a payment of up to €100/ha for the declared 5 ha, which equates to a payment of up to €500.

3. A farmer has declared 5 ha of eligible grassland in his BPS 2022 application, of which the farmer wants to use 5 ha for cutting and preserving silage, but intends to take two silage cuts from this 5 ha. The farmer applies to the feed promotion and enters 5 ha in the application form, also selects the option Second silage cut and enters the 5 ha there again. The farmer is entitled to a payment of up to €100/ha for the first cut of 5 ha and a payment of up to €100/ha for the second cut of 5 ha, equating to a payment of up to €1,000.

What happens if I apply too late?

After August 2, 2022, a period of 25 calendar days applies for the acceptance of late applications. However, late applications received during this period will be subject to deductions from payments of 1 piece per working day in relation to FSS (see table).

Except in cases of force majeure/extraordinary circumstances, applications will no longer be accepted after the deadline of 25 calendar days.

What happens if I don’t plant as much silage as planned?